My Bestest is ENGAGED!

I've had the privilege of spending the weekend in South Carolina because.....

JAMIE'S ENGAGED!!!!!!!

I've been waiting quite a while to FINALLY share that good news! Other than the unknown anticipation of when it might be for the last several months, for the 16 days between when Matt told me he was going to do it and it actually happening..... I've been about to bust!

Matt texted me on Thursday, 16 days before it finally went down, asking if I had some time to talk that night to talk about buying some bling for Jamie. I was in Catherine's dorm room and started screaming and jumping up and down. See, I've been very tempted to just subtly ask Matt what he was thinking for the last few months, but Adam threatened me with my life so I kept my mouth shut and my questions to myself. SO needless to say I was SO excited! I couldn't get through the next few hours quick enough, and when I got home I went straight to the computer and got on skype. As soon as Matt picked up I started screaming.... I'm not really sure what.... probably something along the lines of, "AHHHHHHHHH I'M SO EXCITED!!!!! I CAN'T HARDLY STAND IT!!! IT'S FAINLLY HAPPENING! I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN THIS EXCITED SINCE I GOT ENGAGED! AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Followed by a lot of sentimental, emotional rambling about how perfect they are for each other....blah,blah,blah. I'm just glad Matt is the most gracious person I know and just sat there while I blabbed on for 2 hours. We then spent the next several days talking about and looking at rings..... during which we both kicked ourselves for not paying closer attention when Jamie not-so subtly dropped hints about what she liked. But Matt made a WONDERFUL decision and once he got the ring picked out started getting the ball rolling on deciding when and how to propose.

Now, Jamie HATES surprises and has been VERY anxiously awaiting this day, so Matt was determined and I was adamant that she be completely surprised (which she totally was), so all this sneaking around was pretty tough. I got all kinds of anxious when I talked to her on the phone, so I would strategically return calls and leave messages when I knew she wouldn't answer.

So Friday night, I drove to JC and spent the night at my Dad's, then got up early Saturday morning and drove down to help Matt set everything up. I got there right before lunch time.

Jamie was at church with Matt's mom and sister-in-law (who were both in on it) painting faces at the Easter egg hunt. Then they texted & called when they left to let him know they were on the way.....

Jamie thought that they were just heading back to Matt's parents' house to eat lunch. When the 3 of them got home, they walked around the back of the house to go up stairs and inside where there was this sign (that surely she wouldn't miss)

Well I don't think it registered, because she started to walk up the stairs so Lauren said, "No, you go that way." We then ALL heard her yell, "OH MY GOODNESS!!! WHHHAAATTT!?!?"

So she then walked down this path that Matt had created, lined with pictures throughout their relationship from the start until now........

Starting here........

Then rounding around the tree......

Then winding around to the side of the house (she couldn't see him until she made that last turn)....

To find this super excited/the LUCKIEST guy in the world waiting for her with a frame with a question mark in it, not knowing what the future holds, but absolutely certain that there would be many,many,many (and if you know Jamie) MANY more pictures to come- and more importantly memories throughout the rest of their lives together.

Then the details are a secret between them until after they came back.... but here are some reenactment pictures of how he finally asked after telling her how special she is and how much he loves her :)

I love this one :) Definitely not an accurate reenactment, he was all smiles!

Then they talked more and finally came back around (which in my mind took F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!!).... While all of this was happening, I was standing inside.... where I couldn't see them but could see when the came around the 1st corner.... and then I snuck outside to stand at the end of the path behind the tree to "take pictures of them walking back"......

Jamie had no idea I was there. In fact she had just asked Matt if I knew and he kind of said no, brushed it off, whatever.... so when she came around the corner and saw me there she screamed, turned around and smacked Matt on the arm (such a trickster), started crying and we then had a running embrace :)

and got all choked up.... yall I can't begin to tell you how excited I was/still am. Matt so patiently pursued her in the beginning of their relationship and she so patiently waited for the last several months, knowing that they were going to be together forever.

Matt's family all came outside and there were hugs all around. She is SO blessed to be marrying into SUCH an incredible family and SO excited to soon too be a Pepin!

The Bling!

Later that night we all went to dinner together to celebrate. (I captured this cute pic on the way)

So precious.

oh so pretty!

SOSOSO blessed and happy to spend this wonderful weekend with my bestest!

Then we went to church for Easter on Sunday morning, where Matt's cute dad announced it at the end of the service and everyone congratulated them.

J & her soon to be Father-in-law!

I can't begin to express how happy I am for them. Did i mention that!? Seriously. I would not have picked a more wonderful, loving, perfect, amazing man for my best friend. I'm getting a little misty just typing it. I knew he was the one for her (specifically on September 14th, 2007 at about 3:30 in the morning :) ) before I ever met him and they really even started "officially" dating. I am SO thankful that he is the perfect provision for her and her for him. He is one LUCKY guy!

Stay tuned for wedding planning fun!!!

Joyfully rejoicing in His provision,